Best Compression Methods for 'Specific' Games. Q&A

[Kitsune1982]

Baldurs Gate 1 Enhanced Edition + Siege of Dragonspear Expansion

Ripped/Removed: Nothing!

compression method used (diskspan)

data files: mxZLib+srep+LZ1+diskspan:4440mb:4470mb
movies/language/music: mxZLib+srep+msc+LZ1+diskspan:4440mb:4470mb

Original Size: 5.21 GB
Compressed Size: 3.78 GB

Final Output files:
wolfpaw-1.bin.001 - 1.07 GB
wolfpaw-2.bin.001 - 0.97 GB
wolfpaw-3.bin.001 - 417 MB
wolfpaw-4.bin.001 - 1.31 GB

Final Output Size: 3.78 GB

**Note: if you all are wondering why the bin files are so different in size, i dont compress the entire game folder all at once like some of the other users on this forum do. I split up the game into several folders, marked D1/D2/D3/etc and compress the files seperately. so like if the game has bik videos, instead of compressing the game folder with one specific compression algorithm, i move the bik files to, say, a folder named D1 if they are in the main folder of the game install and then use bpk+srep on the bik movies, then move the other data files to seperate folders, and compress them with the appropriate methods. that being said, i do maintain the folder structure that the original install is in, so for example if the installed game had a folder named 'movies' eg c:\games\gamename\movies, then i would move the temporary files i am repacking to a folder in my compressor, eg c:\repacks\gamename\D1\movies\ then put the bik files in there so that when you install the game it will move the bik files from the 'movies' folder in my repack temporary folder herein contained in the first bin.001 file to c:\yourfolder\gamename\movies\ retaining the original game install folder structure. hope this helps anyone who wants to shorten the compression time.

Using the method of splitting the game files into several folders, I was able to compress a 5 gb game into 3.78 gb in about 30 minutes instead of an hour or more. ask me if you need further clarification on my compression methods.**